Police: Teen stole $45,000 of guns from Bass Pro’s Fine Gun Room

A Springfield teenager has been arrested after police say he broke in through an outside window and stole more than $45,000 worth of guns from the Fine Gun Room at Bass Pro Shops.

Ray J. Genel, 17, was arrested Friday after a brief foot pursuit and charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the gun theft.

According to a probable cause statement, police were dispatched to Bass Pro Shops at Campbell Avenue and Sunshine Street just after 5 a.m. Aug. 8 for reports of a break-in.

An employee was stocking merchandise in the hunting department when he noticed the glass door to the Fine Gun Room was shattered and someone was standing inside with a bandanna covering his face, the statement says.

The masked man — who police say was Genel — pointed a handgun at the employee and threatened to shoot him if he did not leave, according to the statement.

The employee hid behind a shelf until Genel left, the statement says.

When police arrived, they discovered the suspect had broken into the building through a window, shattered three display cases and stolen five guns valued at more than $45,000, the statement says.

The suspect also dropped several other guns as he was leaving, causing $30,000 worth of damage to the weapons, the statement says.

On Aug. 9, Genel’s aunt contacted police and told them Genel came to her house early the previous morning and left behind four guns which he said he had stolen from Bass Pro Shops, according to the statement.

Another family member turned the guns over to police later that day, the statement says.

A bond recommendation document says Genel is a suspect in a different burglary investigation and a stealing case at Walmart.